Absolutely lists best cheese boards to try in London right in time to celebrate National Wine & Cheese Day on the 25th July.
By Felicity Carter
Whether you’re saving the best till last with a cheese board course, or wanting it as an alfresco snack, here are the best specially-curated forage boards to try in London, and the wines you should team with them. From the Brillat Savarin Affine aux Truffes that just calls for Champagne, a creamy and complex Stichelton blue, and a blow-your-socks of Lincolnshire Poacher Cheddar, these boards offer savoury scrumptiousness aplenty.
Champagne + Fromage
At Champagne + Fromage you’ll see the coming together of delicious artisanal products. French fromages (there’s over 50 of them) are presented as part of meat and cheese boards, as well as sharing boards that also come with charcuteries, cornichons, and tapenade. For those with a penchant for oozy gooey cheese, there’s raclette and baked camembert. When it comes to the fizz offering expect brut, brut rosé, blanc de blancs, demi-secs (semi sweet Champagne), and plenty of vintages to wash it down with.
The Wine Bar at Fortnum & Mason
A little gem nestled within the Fortnum’s Lower Ground Floor Food Hall next to the copious bottles of wine, is their Wine Bar. Here there is a curated food menu including a choice of cheeses, with must-tries being the Nottingham’s Colston Bassett Stilton and the beefy umami Montgomery Cheddar from Somerset. These come served with cracker bread, Fortnum’s famous chutney, and celery for some crunch along with a specially curated list of wines and champagnes.
The Dining Room at The Goring
This Michelin star establishment doesn’t do a cheese board, it does a cheese trolley, and as you’d expect, it sure is deluxe. Under the direction of Executive Chef Richard Galli, The Dining Room offers a traditional British menu and to end your dining experience, choose from a selection of three or five British cheeses including Berk Swell, Per Las, Sheep Russler, Bath soft cheese, Golden Cross and Westcombe Cheddar, and they’re served with chutney and crackers. Take lead from sommelier, Irina Sandul and she’ll serve up the best accompanying wines.
The Cheese Barge
For those who want a full-on cheese experience, The Cheese Barge at Paddington is a must-visit. Here, there’s a chance to pick and choose from their selection of cheeses and small producer wines, with each one coming with a specific pairing that’s chosen to perfectly accompany the taste and texture of the cheese. Cue the Sinodun Hill with London Honey (a mousse-like goats cheese), the Gorwydd Caerphilly with Orange & Fennel Marmalade (crumbly and creamy) or even the Young Buck with House Chocolate Digestive (a rich blue option).
Paxton and Whitfield
For an at-home cheese board assembly try those from Britain’s leading cheesemonger for over 200 years, Paxton and Whitfield. Their ‘Truly Great’ selection consists of five artisan British selections, loved for their quality and taste, and is perfect for afternoon nibbling or as a last course. The kit includes the Paxton & Whitfield Stilton PDO, a creamy mellow Stilton with a herby tang; Montgomery’s Cheddar, a handmade Westcountry Farmhouse Cheddar; Berkswell with nutty, savoury and fruity notes, Tunworth, an award-winning soft (twice winning Supreme Champion at the British Cheese Awards); and Golden Cross, crafted from British Goats’ milk. They are also on hand to give expert pairing advice with beer, wine, and champagne that’s sold alongside the cheese; cue their Champagne which has a higher percentage of Pinot Noir grapes for a full-bodied flavour, or their Port which pairs well with the saltiness of artisan cheese.
